What genre do you reach for?

I'm a chainreader, as soon as I finish a book and put it down I immediately pick up another one. I've always been like this and the books I enjoy the most have a lot of humor in them and are more character driven. I enjoy fun mysteries like those by M.C. Beaton, Lori Copeland and Anne George. I personally enjoy children's books too even though I don't have kids myself but that may be a odd quirk that goes along with my passion for writing children's stories. And I like unusual and clever stories like those by Susan Trott. So in conclusion ((SMILE)) I'd have to say for me it's comedy, mystery and children's picture books.

I too like character driven stories with lots of irony and humor, although I write hard science fiction. I'm now just starting a contemporary fantasy, completely out of my genre, but I believe I need a break after writing 13 unpublished sci-fi novels, and need to try something different. I've heard that fantasy outsells sci-fi 10-1, but I think that involves all fantasy and sub-genres. I'm also changing my style to fit this genre, and am writing it slowly and more precisely. I'm using some Stephen King type prose and voice to see if my reaction to editors and agents are more apt to garner my samples.

Tri

I read mainstream/literary stuff like The Kite Runner, House of Sand and Fog, The Life of Pi, etc. But occasionally I'd pick up a thriller or sci fi. I read different non-fiction based on my interest of the moment...

I carry a list around with me of authors I like, and new-to-me authors whose blogs I read and whose books sound interesting. Most often this carries me first to the Mystery section followed by Fiction and Literature. Sometimes I pick up a romance, and more rarely I pick up fantasy/sci-fi. At times I also visit the YA section.

I am also a chain reader, in fact I have upstairs books and downstairs books and have two or more going at one time.

I'm a manic chainreader (and am so happy there are others in the world). If you browse my massive expanse of bookshelves, you'll find three or four books with bookmarks in them at once.

I just like to read. I'm not picky. If it interests me, I'll eat it. I suppose I'm predominately ficiton, more specifically sci-fi/fantasy, but then, where do I put the books on the Napoleonic Era that I was just reading? Or the ancient mythology history books? well, then there's the horror. Or the "mainstream" stuff (my wife just finished a copy of Steve Alten's "MEG" and apparently thinks this needs reading by me. 200 pages; read it in an evening happily).

I just like books. Reading 'em, writing 'em. Hand me a book and I'll give it a shot. If it holds me, I'll devour it. Even if it's a fairly bad book, I'll sometimes read it just for the hooting laughter.

I like about the same as Ray. In the past month I have read The Kite Runner, A Home at the End of the World, Bruiser and Old School(Tobias Wolff...awesome book!). I guess I'm a sucker for coming of age novels.

Sci-fi and Fantasy are big with me. I'm really picky about Fantasy, though. If it's another story of some nobody discovering they have to save the world and that world is populated with elves, dwarves and halflings, I'm not going to read it.
Ursula Leguin is awesome, as is Carol Emshwiller (I highly recommend 'The Mount'), Philip Dick, Neal Stephenson. Luckily, I've not yet read all of their stuff.

Fantasy. Horror. Thrillers. Stuff by Laurell K. Hamilton and whatever that genre might be, horror/fantasy/adventure.

Right now I'm reading "20000 Leagues Beneath the Sea," "The Exorcist," and "Starship Troopers."

Fantasy. Science-Fiction. Horror. Some historical fiction. The order changes depending on my mood. I also read things people hand me because I am a chain reader also. I think I read faster than most folks.

I wil read non-fiction history as long as it is about any time period before 1700. I don't like romance novels unless they have Vampires, the Undead, Spaceships, Aliens, Elves, Wizards and a Dragon in them.

I've got an interesting book on business law, and another one on finance.

My son...19...prefers Philosophy and is currently working on Merton and Aquinas. He use to read Science Fiction exclusively. He also likes technical scientific books, prefering discussions of planetary exploration.

My daughter...13....will read anything that doesn't run away. ( So I've had to hide a few books.) She did the "American Girl" thing years ago, and read most of the books on the 8th grade list by 6th grade. She just finished "Foundation Trilogy" Before that it was LOTR. ( Oh Harry Potter, of course. The guy who plays Harry is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CUTE ( squeel!))
She is working on Anne Rice's vampire books now, but has been eyeing my H.P. Lovecraft.

Oh, Yeah. Far Side, Calvin and Hobbs, and Peanuts compilation books. They's always good

I read fantasy and SF. I also play fantasy- and SF-oriented computer games. Many RPGers like myself are into fantasy, and that's mostly what I write, too.

I have a few different genres i like to read. Humor is first on my list. Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series has me in hysterics most of the time, but a gritty mystery/thriller is just as enjoyable. I usually break them up by reading a good autobiography.

Fantasy, Thriller, Mystery, Humour, Fantasy, and Fantasy.
I don't buy books very often (poor student) but a couple of weeks ago I picked up a fantasy novel, was hooked, bought it, and finished it the same day.
I'm a fast reader.

Toni1953 said:

What genre (other than romance) seems to be the most popular, particularly with the 18-35 age group? What types of stories make them turn away from computer games and the poker network and pick up an actual book to read?

any ideas?

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I don't know what is the most popular genre around, although I do know what I personally reach for.

Fantasy/Science Fiction.

Anything with dragons and/or magic or other fantastical creatures, I very much enjoy. I've even been known to read a vampire novel or two.